LONDON mayoral candidates are to be targeted by anti-HS2 campaigners in a bid to make the high-speed route a key issue of the 2012 campaign trail.

Ruislip Against HS2 chairman Lottie Jones told the Gazette each party's nominee would be written to and that a meeting with Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick would be arranged.

Conservative incumbent Boris Johnson pledged to fight the £32billion project last year but his opposition has wavered since a tunnel was announced for Ruislip, which he welcomed, while Labour rival Ken Livingstone has proposed an alternative route via Waterloo.

Mrs Jones said: "We are going to form a London alliance of groups against HS2 and our next target will be the mayoral candidates. The Green Party say they are the only party officially against it but UKIP seem quite determined as well.

"We are going to meet Brian Paddick in the next couple of months and we are encouraging residents to write to the candidates. We hope HS2 will be one of the big issues discussed in the election campaign.

"We want to make it a London issue."

As well as the Hillingdon and Ealing boroughs being severely affected, Camden would see at least 216 homes demolished and there is set to be massive disruption around Euston Station, which would be rebuilt to accommodate HS2.

Challenging Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone and Brian Paddick in the closely-fought mayoral contest this spring will be Green Party candidate Jenny Jones and UK Independence Party (UKIP) nominee Lawrence Webb.